we agree “there is ONLY one church” and if it is the Church Jesus established, it must have existed UNIVERSALLY, at all times from 33ad to the present.
there are those that teach the Church was “apostate” and left the orthodox faith. ( Joseph Smith agrees with this and we have the Mormons because of this thinking )
let’s use one doctrine to see who is “apostate” and who isn’t.
the Bible is clear, baptism causes the following:
1. remission of sins
2. receiving the Holy Spirit
3. being placed “into Christ”
this is the biblical, orthodox Faith this UNIVERSAL CHURCH has taught since receiving the doctrine from the Apostles.
the Bishops at Nicea in 325ad, after tremendous persecution from Rome had ended, gathered to defend the divinity of Jesus and state they believed in “one baptism for the remission of sins.
this is what all of Christendom believed until the 16th century, when some began to teach baptism is done after salvation as an act of obedience.
now, EVERYONE SHOULD know the truth.
what say you BB, is baptism for the remission of sins or an act of obedience that has nothing to do with salvation?
let’s see who holds the orthodox Faith and who never had it.
"STUDY to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim. 2:15.
This tells me that the apostate person is the workman who is NOT approved unto God, because he does not rightly divide the word of truth. And he WILL be ashamed. THAT'S apostacy.